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Toa Payoh Vets Clinical
Research
Making veterinary surgery alive
to a veterinary student studying in Australia
using real case studies and pictures |
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PYOMETRA MAY
KILL YOUR FEMALE DOG
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow),
MRCVS
First written: July 29, 2008
Update: Dec 24, 2009 |
In March 8, 2008, a very
thin 4-year-old female Lhasa
Apso that had a bit of
sticky vaginal discharge for
more than a week was sent to
an emergency veterinary
practice after midnight. She was diagnosed
as pyometra but the owners
did not want immediate
surgery and consulted me.
This
"emaciated" dog survived the
general anaesthesia and
surgery much to my surprise
and the relief and delight
of the teenaged girl. The
close family of two
parents, the teenaged
daughter and son whom I had
seen as children in the
neighbourhood, spent many
hours at the Surgery nursing
and hand-feeding this
"anorexic nervosa" pet.
Sometime
in middle of 2009, I saw the
dog who came in for her
annual vaccination. I was
surprised as she had gained
weight and looked much
healthier. Below are pictures of the
Lhasa Apso in 2008 and her
pyometra situation which,
fortunately, had a happy
outcome after surgery.
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 1173.
Mar 8. 2008.
Saturday. A
female 6-year-old
Lhasa Apso could not
open eyes at 10 pm at
all. For the past 2 days,
sticky pus from
vagina. Rushed to a
vet opening past
midnight. Vet
1 diagnosed pyometra.
Advised a blood test
and immediate surgery.
Owner declined the
blood test and waited
till the next day to
consult me. |
1174.
Mar 9, 2008.
Sunday. Skin was not
supple before
rehydration with
fluids. Tongue
cyanotic. Immediate
surgery would be high
risk as the dog will
die. But the womb may
perforate and release
pus killing the dog. |
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If the dog dies on the
operating table, it is
hard for the family
and detrimental to the
reputation of the
operating vet. Few
owners ever forgive or
forget the vet when
their dog dies on the
operating
table. Bad-mouthing
from unsophisticated
dog owners in
Singapore is common.
After all, the vet's
performance outcome is
a death of the
dog.
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1175.
Mar 10, 2008.
Monday. Dog rehydrated
during past 24 hours.
Sausage lump palpated.
Mild lower abdominal
pain. Owner did not
want X-rays/blood test
as vet costs add up
here and there. All
family members
informed and met at 1
p.m. prior to surgery
to see the dog. Just
in case the dog dies
on the operating
table.
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1176.
Mar 10, 2008.
Monday. Surgery. Wakes
up fast when only gas
anaesthesia is used.
Use least %
maintenance gas (to
effect). Very fast
surgery to minimise
risk of death on the
operating table.
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1177.
Mar 10, 2008.
Dog seemed to have a good
chance of survival.
However, she will not
eat by herself. Now
not dehydrated.
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1178.
Mar 11, 2008.
Tuesday. 5 pm. Went
home. Active. Advised
hand feeding of
nutritious food in
small amounts every 2
hour & good care. No
scavenging. Family
members are very happy
and grateful.
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Not all pyometra cases
have happy outcomes as
Vets Are Not Gods.
Some seriously ill
pyometra dogs still
die from kidney
failure a few days
after a successful
surgery.
Therefore check your
female dog daily and
get her treated by
your vet or spayed if
she had dirty vaginal
discharge. You may not
want to spay her as
advocated by so many
animal welfare groups
and vets. If that is
your position, you
have a responsibility
to ensure that she has
normal heat periods
and health.
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Toa Payoh Vets
Clinical
Research |
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